Process and apparatus for cooling car-wheels



- F. K. VIAL. `PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING CAR WHELS.

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PROCESS'AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING CAR WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ |914.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. MY ,NY

2z/6.1m. ecieri'cln UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

FREDERICK K. VIAL, 0F CI-IIGAGG, ILLINIS, ASSIGNOR T0 GRIFFIN WHEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, GEFORATGN 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS AND APP'lRES Application filed August '7,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Ii. VIAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Cooling Car-llVheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in process and apparatus for cooling car wheels. The object of this invention is first to provide a plurality of cooling pits, one group of which I term first stage pits and another group of which I term second stage pits. By these pits I am enabled to remove car wheels from the molding or forming rooms in a highly heated condition and place them first in the first stage pits, allowing them to cool at an even rate below the danger point, and then removing them from these first stage pits to the second stage pits where they are allowed to cool as rapidly as desired, previous to their removal therefrom. For the carrying out of my improved process, I construct the first stage pits in such manner as to obtain coo-ling of the wheels placed therein at a comparatively even rate throughout the pit, while in the second stage pits the cooling is allowed to take place at a comparatively rapid rate since the car wheels when placed therein have passed the danger point or point at which unequal stresses may be set up in the wheels owing to too rapid or uneven cooling. By the use of my apparatus and practice of my processl I am also enabled to maintain the first stage pits in a comparatively heated condition so that the contrast between the temperature of such pits and the highly heated car wheels, when the latter are first placed therein. isnot so great as to iniuriouslv affect the wheels. This further enables me to cool the car wheels in an even and advantageous manner.

I further control the uniform cooling of pits by a system of ducts or air passages by which I can govern the speed with in certain limits at which cooling takes place. This system of ducts includes what I term cold air ducts with a method of controlling the amount of cold air to be admitted, and other or hot air ducts which control the amount of heated air to be drawn from around the pits 'lhls controlling the rapidity with which.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COOLING CAR-NI-IEELS.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

1914. Serial N0. 855,686.

heat is drawn off land thereby the cooling of the wheels. This method allows for controlling and cooling for both primary or first stage pits and the secondary or second stage pits.

These and other objects I am able to attain by the use of the structure set forth and described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of a group4 of first stage pits and a group of second stage pits;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation showing a vertical section taken partially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and partially through one of the second stage pits; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings, in whifh 10 designates the walls of the structure comprising my invention. Inclosed within the walls 10 is the brick or similar structure arranged as described below. Extending downwardly in this structure are a number of first stage pits 11, as I term them, `and second stage pits 1Q, these pits being similar in that they are preferably circular in form to permit placing` therein of horizontally arn ranged car wheels, and are constructed with the circular walls 11a. 12a, respe^tively, of brick or the like closely fitting and arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The brick-work surrounding` the first staple pits 11 adjacent the top thereof is closely fitted or laid. as indicated bv numeral 11b, see Fig'. 3, this closely fitting brick-work 11b extending downwardly a suitable distance, as shown, the depth of these pits and the arrangement and extent of the grouping being determined by the conditions under which they must operate. Below this closely laid brick-work 11b the bricks are staggered or checkered. as indicated bv ninneral 11C. to provide and form circulation spaces around the corresponding portions of the first stage pits 11.

Cold air ducts 13 are provided in the structure preferably near the bottom thereof and extending between the pit walls, these ducts being constructed with apertures 13?l communicating with the spaceslformed by the checkered arrangement of the bricks.

These duct-s 13 communicate with the outer air and closures 13b are provided in the walls 10 to control the flow of air through the same.

I also locate hot air ducts 1-i in the structure, these ducts having apertures 14a providing communication with the circulation spaces in thestructure. The hot air ducts adjacent the first stage pits are preferably located below or at the bottom of the closely bricked in upper structure to insure their communication with the circulation spaces. These hot air ducts 14 communicate with a common chiot 15 from which extends upwardly a stack 16 or the like, in which is mounted a damper 1Ga having the operating handle 1Gb. The top of each pit is provided with the ring 17 having the tapered flange 17 a in which closely fits the tapered wall 18 of the cover 18, and the upstanding fiange 17h. The space between flanges 17 a, 17'b is filledwith sand or the like. These covers may be provided with a sheet of asbestos or other insulating material 19 secured to the under side thereof by bolts 19a, or the like, protected against abrasion by the light steel cover-plate 20, or the like. These covers 18 are provided with the circular centrally located flange 18b having a central socket 18c formed with an inverted taper in which may be inserted extending tongs or the like for removing the cover. Between the central flange 18b and the sides the cover 18 is paved with fire-brick 21 or the like, as shown in Fig. 8. The covers 18 are also provided with the peripheral fianges 18dl which fit in the sand between flanges 17a, 17b of ring 17 and form a seal against circulation of the air from the pits around the covers. The construction and form of cover described above is especially adapted for use with the first or primary stage pits and substantially prevents the escape of heat from the top ofA the pit. The covers may be omitted from the second stage pits entirely if so desired or non-insulated, unpaved covers may be used, as will be more fully eX- plained below. A sheet of insulating material 22, such as asbestos or the like is laid near'the top of the structure and serves to substantially reduce the flow of heat from the top of the structure, thereby protecting the workman walking on the same and also enabling more ready control of the cooling of the walls. A dividing wall 23 is constructed between the first and second stage pits, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the operation of my process, and in using the above described construction, I remove the car wheels in their highly heated condition from the molds or the like and place them inthe first stage pits. When they have cooled to the point below what I term the danger point, above which improper cooling may result in the setting up of unequal vstresses throughout the car wheel, I remove them from the first stage pits to the second stage pits where they are allowed to cool as rapidly as possible inthe ordinary operation. From thence they may be removed to the storing room or yard.

Irlitlierto it has been the practice to construct pits in a structure where the spaces between have been solidly filled with sand, earth or similar material, covers being provided of conducting material, and I have found that car wheels at the top or near the top of the pit cool in a comparatively short time owing to their relatively direct relation to the atmosphere, and those near the bottom of the pits being farther from the outside atmosphere and insulated therefrom, to a certain extent, by the superimposed walls take a longer time in cooling, and by this method wheels are in many instances cooled in an unequal and varying manner so that stresses are either set upin the upper wheels or the lower ones according to the rate of cooling, and it becomes necessary to reject many wheels as imperfect.

In the use of my apparatus the wheels are placed in their highly heated condition in the first stage pits, the insulated covers are placed thereon immediately, and the damper 16a is set at a position to properly permit flow of heated air from the circulation spaces of the structure while the dampers 13b are also set to permit entrance to the ducts 13 of such cold air as is desirable. This will result in the setting up of circulation through the circulation spaces in the structure, and as hot air flows therefrom, cool air is admitted thereto and the cooling eifect may be regulated, as will be obvious, to permit as rapid cooling as is safe and practical. By means of the insulated covers and the closely laid upper brick structure 11b adjacent the top of the primary pits 11, it will be obvious that the car Wheels at the top of the pits 11 will not cool more rapidly than those atvthe bottom of the pits, the comparatively rapid cooling present in the ordinary or old style structure being substantially eliminated. It will, therefore, be apparent that I am en abled to substantially control the cooling of all the wheels in the first stage pits and this insures a comparatively even rate of cooling in each and throughout each of these primary pits. TWhen the danger point, as I term it, has been passed in the cooling of these wheels, they may be removed with immunity to the second stage pits and allowed to cool at a comparatively rapid rate, the checkered arrangement of the brick throughout the height of the second stage pits insuring a more rapid cooling than in the case of the first stage pits. Also, if desirable, the covers may be left off the second stage pits so that the heat will flow thereout unchecked.

The advantage of this process and my Cil structure is not only that time is saved in permitting the hastening of the secondary cooling and danger of setting up unequal stresses in the wheels is removed, but also that the primary pits remain in comparatively highly heated condition at a temperature substantially equal to that at which the car wheels are removed to the secondary stage pits and the incoming highly heated wheels are not subjected to a comparatively low temperature when introduced into the first stage pits, as is the case in the use ot the ordinary apparatus or structure. The elimination of this disadvantage, namely placing the highly heated car wheels in a pit of low temperature, removes the possibility of setting up dangerous stresses in the car wheels, due to suddenly subjecting their exterior to a comparatively low temperature when in highly heated condition.

It will be apparent that while l have shown and described one form and arrangement of my invention, the same is susceptible of many changes and modiications, and l do not wish to be restricted to the form shown or described beyond the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. A structure formed with pits therein, said pits being surrounded by circulation spaces for a portion only of their depth.

2. A structure comprising bricked in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork adjacent the top of said pits being closely arranged, the brickwork surrounding said pits below said closely arranged portion being provided with circulation spaces.

3. A structure comprising bricked-in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork being provided with circulation spaces therein, and chiots through said brickwork communicating with the circulation spaces therein.

4. A structure comprising bricked-in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork being provided with circulation spaces therein, warm air ducts communicating with the circulation spaces in the upper part of said brickwork, and cold air ducts communieating with the circulation spaces in the lower part of said brickwork.-

5. A structure comprising bricked in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork adjacent the top of said pits being closely arranged, the brickwork surrounding said pits below said closely arranged portion being provided with circulation spaces, said structure being providedwith outlet openings.

6. A structure comprising bricked in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork adjacent the top of said pits being closely arranged, the brickwork surrounding said pits below said closely arranged portioii being provided with circulation spaces, said structure being provided with ducts communicating with said circulation spaces.

7. A structure comprising bricked in pits, brickwork surrounding said pits, said brickwork adjacent the top of said pits being closely arranged, the brickwork surrounding said pits below said closely arranged portion being provided with circulation spaces, said structure being provided with ducts communicating with said circulation spaces, and means to regulate flow of air through said ducts.

S. A` structure comprising pits adapted to receive heated car wheels therein, the walls ot said structure around the upper parts ot said pits comprising means for checking the flow of heat from said car wheels adjacent the tops of said pits.

9. A structure comprising pits adapted to receive heated car wheels therein, means around the upper parts of said pits for checking the iiow of heat from the car wheels adjacent the tops oi' said pits, and means around the lower parts of said pits for enhancing thev flow of heat from the car wheels adjacent the lower parts of said pits.

10. A structure formed with a plurality of pits thereon, a number of said pits being arranged to receive heated car wheels or the like and to enable comparatively slow cooling thereof, and a number of said pits being arranged to receive partially cooled wheels from said first named pits and to permit said wheels to cool at a comparatively rapid rate.

11. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of pits and formed with circulation spaces about said pits, said structure being further provided with ducts communicating with said circulation spaces adjacent the upper portion of said pits, and an outlet stack, said ducts communicating therewith.

1Q. A structure oi the class described comprising a plurality of pits and formed with circulation spaces about said pits, said structure being further provided with ducts communicating with said circulation spaces adjacent the upper portion of said pits, an outlet stack, said ducts communicating therewith, and means to regulate the flow of air from said ducts to said stack.

13. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of pits and formed with circulation spaces about said pits, said structure being further provided with ducts communicating with said circulation spaces adjacent the upper portion of said pits, an outlet stack, said ducts communicating therewith, and a damper in said stack to regulate the flow of air from said ducts to said stack.

14. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of pits and Jformed with circulation spaces about said pits, said structure being' further provided With ducts communicating with said spaces and located adjacent the upper portion ot said pits, said structure being also provided With ducts communicating With said spaces and located adjacent the lower portion of said pits, said iirst named ducts comnninicating` with a discharge outlet, said second named ducts communicating with the atmosphere outside said structure, and means to regulate the loiv of air through both said first named and second named ducts.

l5. A process for cooling car Wheels consisting of first placing the car Wheels in highly heated condition in first stage pits and cooling them at a comparatively slow and even rate throughout said pits, and next in removing them to other pits and allowing them to cool at a comparatively rapid rate.

16. A structure formed With pits therein, said pits being surrounded by circulation spaces, cold air ducts communicating With said circulation spaces in the lower part of said structure, and Warm air ducts communieating With said circulation spaces in the upper part of said structure.

17. A structure comprising briclred-in pits, brickivorlr surrounding said pits, said brickwork heilig arranged in checker-Work fashion whereby circulation spaces are provided around said pits, cold air ducts communicating with the lowermost parts of said circulation spaces, and Warm air ducts connnunicating with the uppermost parts ot said circulation spaces.

18. A structure formed with a plurality of pits therein, brickwork surrounding1 said pits, said briclrworlr aroundA av number of said pits being arranged to effect a relatively sionv cooling of highly heated car Wheels placed therein, the brickivork around a number of other pits being arranged to effect a relatively rapid cooling of car Wheels received therein from said first-mentioned pits, and covers for all of said pits.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

FREDERICK K. VIAL.

IVitness'es H. J. ROSEN, Gr. J. WEBER. 

